Page 117 of The Ranger
She stilled again. “You’re… letting me ask you other things?”
He slowly smiled. “I am.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Anything?”
He gave her a single nod.
She looked him in the eyes. “Markhel Gondien Olwen. Where do you come from?”
His eyes closed, and for a moment, he looked like he was indecisive. When he opened them, he smiled. “Muirara.”
She cocked her head. “Where’s that?”
He drew in a shuddering breath. “Everywhere.”
23
Makama leaned toward the front hall and took another sip of lemonade.
“First time chaperoning?” Sadie asked in a soft voice.
“I’m afraid so.” Makama studied her and wondered what Sadie looked like when she was younger. Too bad dad didn’t have pictures. Though with Dallan and Shona’s help, he could get some…
“Whatever it is running through your mind, darling, do inform me of it before you act.” Vale stated.
She shot him a mock glare. “Darn if you don’t always know what I’m thinking.”
“I have no idea what you’re thinking, I only know that it’s devious because of the look on your face.” He raised his glass of lemonade to her then took a sip.
Sadie snorted then returned to her mending. She seemed to be warming up to them, a good sign. Honoria, on the other hand, she wasn’t so sure about. Her eyes were glued to the front hall. She was probably trying to listen to what Markhel and Maida were saying to each other. The thing was, they weren’t saying much of anything.
Kwaku and Zara had come to fetch Melvale, Kitty, and Lany. But before they left, Kwaku gave Markhel a parting piece of advice. And by golly if it didn’t seem to be working.
“Why are they so quiet?” Honoria finally asked.
Vale grinned. “There are times when silence really is golden. Or in this case, attractive. They’re simply enjoying each other’s company. Nothing more. If Maida talks too much, she’ll miss seeing him.”
Sadie and Honoria exchanged the same look of confusion. “What are you saying?” Honoria asked, annoyance in her voice.
“They are learning to just be,” Makama explained. She didn’t know if they understood, but that summed it up.
“Honoria, it’s all right,” Sadie said. “Someone gave Duncan the same advice when he first encountered Cozette. Dallan told him that sometimes the best thing to say to a woman was nothing at all. If she wants to talk that’s fine. She needs to…” She stopped and looked at Vale and Makama. “I’m rambling.”
“No, you’re not,” Makama said. “What you’re saying is very true. She needs to get used to how he feels. Without all the words bouncing back and forth.”
Honoria kept silent and instead looked toward the hall.
“They’re getting used to each other, dear,” Sadie said. “It’s for the best.”
Honoria closed her eyes a moment, opened them, and abruptly left the room.
“She’s still angry,” Vale stated.
Sadie put her mending in her lap. “Well, it’s not every day someone comes into your house and tells you their daughter must marry someone that’s… not human.” She fingered the half-mended shirt in her lap. “I wish Duncan and Cozette were here. It would make things much easier.”
“That… could be arranged,” Makama hedged. “I think.”
Sadie straightened in her chair. “It could? I can’t tell you how much that would help Harrison.”